7 Best GPS Drones

Are you looking for the best GPS Drones for your needs, but are overwhelmed with the amount of choice? The GPS drone market is healthy with plenty of different models to select. They differ not only by the implementation of the GPS, but also by a variety of supplementary features.

For instance, if you need GPS and an excellent camera then figuring the drones which provide that will be the first part of your buying process. In this GPS drone guide we will present you with the top drones. We will also explain the main features of each drone and how well the GPS technology has been implemented.

Additionally, we will suggest reasons for why you might want to invest in a GPS drone at all. It’s certainly a cool piece of equipment to have, but do you really need it? By taking a look at our suggested list of applications perhaps you’ll decide if such a drone can add value to you.

Pay attention to the section where we explain the different features of a GPS drone that are worth paying attention to. It’s ideal for beginners, but if you’re a veteran drone pilot read it anyway. It’s always useful to brush up on your drone knowledge. After all, it’s a relatively new technology that’s consistently evolving.

Are you looking for the best GPS Drones for your needs, but are overwhelmed with the amount of choice? The GPS drone market is healthy with plenty of different models to select. They differ not only by the implementation of the GPS, but also by a variety of supplementary features.

For instance, if you need GPS and an excellent camera then figuring the drones which provide that will be the first part of your buying process. In this GPS drone guide we will present you with the top drones. We will also explain the main features of each drone and how well the GPS technology has been implemented.

Additionally, we will suggest reasons for why you might want to invest in a GPS drone at all. It’s certainly a cool piece of equipment to have, but do you really need it? By taking a look at our suggested list of applications perhaps you’ll decide if such a drone can add value to you.

Pay attention to the section where we explain the different features of a GPS drone that are worth paying attention to. It’s ideal for beginners, but if you’re a veteran drone pilot read it anyway. It’s always useful to brush up on your drone knowledge. After all, it’s a relatively new technology that’s consistently evolving.

Present for a friend or family member

Drones are dropping in price as technology is maturing. You can buy a drone for under a $100, or one that’s worth thousands of dollars. You can introduce a friend or family member to this new technology by getting them a budget drone. However, well implemented GPS features are found on the more expensive drones.

For a drone enthusiast or hobbyist there are plenty of higher priced models with excellent features. With the amount of choices you just need to figure out your requirements and select the appropriate model.

Emergency services

A GPS drone is ideal for emergency services that need to rescue an individual from a specific location. Once the individual is found the location of the drone can be noted and send help to the relevant location.

Furthermore, if the approximate location of the stranded individual is known, then the drone can be programmed to scout the specific area. This can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to locate an individual.

Industrial use

Let’s say that you have industrial buildings over a very big area. After a breakdown occurs miles away from your location, you can get the drone and quickly fly it to the affected area. Some drones have top speeds of over 50mph and a range of 5km+. Therefore, you can quickly fly out to remote locations that might take a long time to visit manually.

Also a drone can be used to monitor the progress of an industrial process. For instance, let’s say that you’re interested in monitoring the filling of a dam. Using a drone you can do that, and get viewing angles you might not be able to achieve otherwise.

Content creators

For content creators, GPS is a useful feature because it allows for automated flight. Therefore, the content creator can focus on the video or photo capture rather than fiddling around with the controls trying to pilot the drone.

Achieving specific shots might not be possible without GPS because of the complexity. Content creators should familiarise themselves with the GPS automated flight capabilities when purchasing a new drone. This will allow them to get the most out of the drone during content capture.

What features to look out for?

Type of GPS

Not all GPS features are implemented the same. There is a Russian satellites position system, which is called GLONASS and USA based GPS systems. Some drones come equipped with both systems, which is ideal.

The dual satellite connectivity allows the navigation systems to take advantage of up to 20 satellites. Therefore, the GPS signal will not be lost whilst outdoors. Understanding the GPS system enables you to figure out what the advantages and limitations will be during use.

GPS features

A drone that has GPS will typically come with a bunch of automated features. The “return home” feature is particularly useful. Let’s say that you’re filming and end up 3km away from the starting location. Once you’ve finished filming you can simply activate the return home feature instead of manually piloting the drone back.

You can also position the drone accurately in the intended location. For example, let’s say that you were filming or scouting a particular area, but the battery is running out. You can return the drone back to you, swap the battery, and then order the dry to fly back to the same location.

Flight time

One of the more important characteristics of a drone is the flight time. More is better, because it reduces the number of interruptions you’re going to experience. For most drones with GPS, expect a flight time of around 20-30 minutes.

You can also invest in additional batteries to get more flight time out of a drone per trip. If you need several hours of flight time then you’ll need to invest in several batteries. Combine that with a portable charging solution and you’ll have access to continuous use of your drone. For filmmakers this might be the solution required for non-stop filming.

Camera

Most drone buyers are interested in capturing aerial footage, which means the camera is one of the main considerations to make. Ideally look for a resolution of 4K, but most have the ability to select between several resolutions. The quality of the stills should be at a minimum of 12MP, but models like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro offer 20MP, which is significantly better.

Furthermore, the camera should be mounted on a 3-axis gimbal for stability. This ensures that the movement of the camera during flight will not be a problem. It will remain dead in the center where it should be. This results in smooth video capture.

Range

One of the limitations of your drone will be the range it can travel. This will be limited by the transmission range. After all, a signal has to be maintained between the controller and the drone. Some drones have a range of less than a 1km, which might be all you need. If range is one of the priorities for you then look for a model with 5-7km worth of range. This should meet the requirements of even the most demanding drone pilots.

Best GPS Drones under $1,000

For the budget orientated consumer there are some excellent options under the $1,000 price point. GPS drones typically come with a number of intelligent flight features. These add to the cost of the drone, which means you’ll need to pay up for those features.

Don’t expect options at the $100-200, but there is one drone we have reviewed for around $300. GPS based features add a lot of value as automated flight features can be used for a more practical experience.

1. DJI Mavic Pro

For a drone that is portable, but doesn’t compromise on the quality of features the DJI Mavic Pro is an excellent choice. The GPS here is advanced, and you also have a selection of intelligent flight features to consider.

The DJI Mavic Pro makes use of GLOSNASS and GPS navigational systems, which allows for dual satellite connectivity. Up to 20 satellites are available for the navigational systems to connect. It comes equipped with 2 vision sensors so that the GPS accuracy is improved. Therefore, the return home landing feature can be considerably more accurate.

The FlightAutonomy feature is made up of 7 different components. This includes 5 cameras, 2 ultrasonic rangefinders, dual-band satellite position system, and 24 computing cores. The entire system combines to allow a 3D map to be formed of the surroundings. Therefore, obstacle avoidance is excellent in this unit. This allows the Mavic to return home safely without colliding with objects.

Other GPS aided functions include the Terrain Follow and TapFly features. These allow for even more automation that the user can play around with. In total there are 4 vision sensors to prevent the Mavic from colliding with surroundings objects.

Included is a 4K camera that’s capable of recording footage at 30fps, or you can use the 1080p resolution to record at 120fps. The camera uses a 1/2.3 inch CMOS image sensor. For photos the resolution is at 12MP.

The range of this drone is an impressive 7,000 meters, which allows the GPS functionality to be used to full advantage. Also the flight time is at 27 minutes – a competitive number when compared to other similar drones.

The Conclusion

The DJI Mavic Pro is an excellent portable drone that has advanced GPS navigational systems. The range of 7km allows all the features to be explored and used in a creative way. Also the number of automated flight features is competitive.

Tech Specs

Weight: 1.64 pounds

Battery: Lithium metal

Charging Time: 60 minutes

Control range: 7,000 meters

Flight time: 27 minutes

GPS: USA and Russian

The Pros

4K video capture

Portable

Long range

Automated flight features

Competitive price

The Cons

Motor not powerful

Images not perfect in low light

2. Walkera Scout X4

For a GPS drone that comes at a competitive price point and uses a variety of flight features the Walkera Scout X4 is an excellent choice. It uses the USA GPS system to provide the pilot with a lot of options at an incredibly accurate level of detail. If you’ve never had a GPS drone before, then you’ll be amazed at the level of functionality here.

Using the GPS system you can set up to 128 waypoints for a truly automated flight experience. This allows you to capture footage without having to fly the drone manually. Also you can select the follow me mode so that it sticks close by wherever you go.

In this model the GPS system is more accurate, which means it will fly over the intended coordinates with less margin of error. It can be set to hover over a specific coordinate if you need to get footage of a specific area.

The failsafe return home feature is an excellent way of retrieving a lost drone. Using the GPS it can find the way back to the starting location. Another useful feature is the object round flight. This instructs the drone to orbit a specific GPs waypoint.

The camera of the Walkera Scout X4 captures footage via the 1080p, which is somewhat of a disadvantage. The competitors in the marketplace can shoot footage at 4K. The camera is fixed on a 3-axis gimbal allowing it to be kept t securely in place during fast flight.

The drone allows for 25 minutes of flight time and can be altered from the 4 rotor setup to have 8 rotors. This increases the flight power of the unit so that it can carry more weight.

The Conclusion

The Walkera Scout X4 is an excellent GPS drone because of the various flight features. The use of 128 waypoints allows the pilot to fully plot an automated flight for a hands-off approach. Also the flight time and agility of the drone allows for a great overall experience.

Tech Specs

Weight: 18.9 pounds

Battery: Lithium polymer

Charging Time: 60-80 minutes

Control range: 1,000 meters

Flight time: 25 minutes

GPS: USA

The Pros

Excellent number of flight features

Flight time is competitive

Can be upgraded to 8 rotor design

The Cons

Camera not competitive

Control range could be improved

3. UPair One

For a budget option that has a well-implemented GPS system and 2.7K HD camera, the UPair One is an excellent choice. The price of around $300 allows beginner drone users to get familiarized with a bunch of advanced features.

The GPS system here can connect with up to 9 satellites to achieve GPS lock. It takes around 3-10 minutes to achieve GPS lock, which might result in a frustrating wait for some. However, the system can make use of excellent features like the automatic return. By executing this feature the drone will return to the starting location.

However, do not expect as many intelligent flight features as in the more expensive drones on this list. The drone is aimed at beginners and the comprehensiveness of the features reflects this.

Charging the drone takes 90 minutes, which you must do before flying the drone for the first time. You’ll receive 18 minutes worth of flight time, which is on the small side. However, at the budget price point it is to be expected.

The FPV range is 600m, which should be ideal for causal users looking to shoot footage in the local area. The other GPS drones on this list have much high range limits.

The camera for a budget drone is decent: video recording is excellent, but the photo quality is lacking. The maximum video recording resolution is 2.7K at 30fps, or you can switch to 1080p at 60fps. Furthermore, the maximum photo resolution is at 8MP, which is below the expected minimum of 12MP that comes with other drones.

The Conclusion

The UPair One offers decent value at the price of around $300. The GPS system can be used to return the drone to the starting location. Also the camera is capable of recording 2.7K footage, which will is great for the casual users.

Tech Specs

Weight: 9.8 pounds

Battery: Lithium metal

Charging Time: 90 minutes

Control range: 600 meters

Flight time: 18 minutes

GPS: USA

The Pros

Budget price

GPS enabled return home feature

Easy to fly

The Cons

Short flight time

Photos only at 8MP

Best GPS Drones under $2,000

For those of you that are interested in something a little more refined that budget options, might find something suitable here. The drones in this section come with a number of automated flight features that allows the pilot to concentrate on the content creation.

The range, build quality, and camera are also better in this category than what you can find in the previous under $1,000 category. For the more serious drone pilot these improvements will be much appreciated.

4. DJI Phantom 4 Pro

One of the best value for money drones on the market for the serious buyer is the Phantom 4 Pro. It comes equipped with an array of impressive features, and the GPS technology is excellent. It’s great for professionals who are into content creation, or want to create 3D photogrammetry imagery.

Just like with the DJI Mavic Pro, the Phantom 4 Pro uses a mix of GPS and GLONASS. Therefore, it has a pool of 24 satellites to connect to during flight. This ensures that regardless of where it’s located on the planet it can use the available navigational systems.

The GPS system means the Phantom 4 Pro is always aware of where it is located, and what the starting position is. Therefore, you can use the return home feature and it will return to the starting position with great accuracy. You can even set your actual home as a waypoint so that the drone meets you at home.

Ten components are used to take advantage of the GPS technology and flight modes. This includes dual-band satellite positioning, infrared sensors, 7 cameras, a compass, computing cores, redundant IMU’s, and downward facing ultrasonic rangefinders.

These components combine to allow for a number of automated flight features, which includes, course lock, home lock, TapFly, terrain follow me, tripod mode, and gesture mode. The end result is a drone that is highly sophisticated and presents the pilot with a number of automated flying options. You can use this drone for years, and still learn new techniques or more efficient ways of piloting.

However, the impressive features do not stop there. The equipped camera is one of the best options on the market. The camera comes with a 1-inch CMOS sensor and a photo resolution of 20MP. This is a highly competitive number that most other drones cannot compete with.

The video recording resolution can be switched between 4K, 2.7K, 1080p, and 720p. 4K is available at 60fps, which is also not the norm because most other 4K drones can only provide 30fps at this resolution.

The Conclusion

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro comes equipped with one of the best drone cameras and a myriad of intelligent flight features. The accurate GPS features of the unit allow you to position the drone exactly where you need it.

Tech Specs

Weight: 10 pounds

Battery: Lithium polymer

Charging Time: 90 minutes

Control range: 7,000 meters

Flight time: 30 minutes

GPS: USA and Russian

The Pros

Advanced obstacle avoidance technology

Long control range

4K video capture

20MP photo

Great flying time

The Cons

Must pay extra for touchscreen controller

5. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone

The Autel Robotics X-Star brings a lot to the table, and has an uncommon orange color if you choose that version. It’s a nice alternative to the DJI brand, which has dominated the GPS drone market for years.

This drone uses both the USA and Russian GLONASS satellite network. This allows the unit to connect to many satellites, which leads to accurate GPS positioning. Even when the drone is flying in a low signal area the dual GPS connectivity ensures all smart-flight features to be accurately executed.

The smart-flight features that use GPS include waypoints, orbit, and follow me mode. These modes allow for a high level of automation. For instance, if you want the drone to fly through an area via specific points then the waypoints feature can be used. This gives you the freedom to focus on the camera controls rather than piloting the drone.

The camera is capable of recording video at 4K with a 108 degree FOV. For the video capture professional the selection of different resolution is a huge bonus. Here are the options: 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps, and 720p at 240fps. High fps is desirable when the drone is moving faster and a lower level of blurring is required.

Furthermore, the camera offers a resolution of 12MP. The camera is held securely via a 3-axis gimbal system. It’s an effective way of eliminating unwanted shaking of the camera during flight.

The flight time of the unit is 25 minutes, which is competitive when compared to the other drones out there. A charging time of 90 minutes is needed for the 14.8V LiPo battery.

The Conclusion

The Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone is an impressive option for those who are seeking a feature-rich drone. The excellent implementation of the GPS means you can navigate it in an automated fashion. Furthermore, the camera is impressive and will be useful for those demanding content creators among you.

Tech Specs

Weight: 3.2 pounds

Battery: Lithium polymer

Charging Time: 90 minutes

Control range: 1,900 meters

Flight time: 25 minutes

GPS: USA and Russian

The Pros

4 resolution modes, including 4K

Great GPS

User friendly controller

The Cons

Unsteady during take-off and landing

Drifts during turns

Best GPS Drones under $5,000

Are you a professional that’s looking for the best GPS drones out there? Then this category is the one for you. The drones here represent some of the best features that current technology has to offer. The control range of the drone here is excellent, which means the GPS automated features can be used to full effect.

6. Walkera Voyager 4

For professionals that can afford the premium price point the Walkera Voyager 4 is one of the best drones on the market. The implementation of the GPS is excellent here, and a number of the other features too.

The GPS system here uses both the USA and the Russian GLONASS system. Dual navigation ensures the Voyager is able to have connectivity access to more than 20 satellites. This is beneficial because it ensures a GPS connection can be maintained regardless of where it’s located.

The different flight features that make use of GPS or the sensors include altitude hold mode, circle flight mode, one-key back to base, one-key take off and landing, destination planning waypoint, and flying around object. All of these features combine for an automated experience allowing the pilot to focus on the content capture.

The camera of the Walkera Voyager 4 is one of the big highlights. With an impressive 18x optical zoom you can get images that are unmatched by most other drones in the industry. The camera can capture footage at 4K for capturing those amazing landscapes and moments.

A unique aspect of the Walkera Voyager 4 is the ability to have unlimited range. Using the 4G network the drone can communicate with the controller over the network. This allows it to travel anywhere the 4G network is available. The only limiting factor would be the battery, which provides up to 25 minutes of flight time.

The Conclusion

The Walkera Voyager 4 is an outstanding drone that uses the GPS technology to provide a variety of automated flight features. The industry leading camera and unlimited range over the 4G network means the Walkera Voyager 4 is a drone that’s highlight competitive. The only downside is the premium price tag.

Tech Specs

Weight: 33.07 pounds

Battery: Lithium metal

Charging Time: 60 minutes

Control range: Unlimited via 4G

Flight time: 25 minutes

GPS: USA and Russian

The Pros

18x zoom

Advanced shock absorption

Limitless range

Variety of automated features

The Cons

Expensive

7. DJI Inspire 2

One of the best professional grade GPS drones you need to pay attention to is the DJI Inspire 2. The implementation of all the features is done extremely well, which offers tremendous value for the expensive price tag.

The Inspire 2 uses a combination of GLONASS and GPS to navigate the skies. This setup allows 24 satellites to provide coordination for the drone. Therefore, the Inspire 2 is connected around the globe regardless of the location.

The ceiling height of this drone is 5,000m, but make sure you abide by the height laws in your local area. In some instances this might be as low as 300 meters. The GPS enables a number of features to be executed with a high degree of accuracy. For instance, the return home function allows the drone to return to the exact location is took off from. Also the waypoint feature can be used to instruct the drone to fly to a specific location.

Another highlight of the DJI Inspire 2 is the camera, which is of an industry leading standard. It’s the X5S, which can record video at an amazing 5.2K-30fps. Furthermore, the 4K resolution video capture can handle 60fps, which is also impressive. Most other drones are only able to handle 30fps at this high resolution.

For photo capture the resolution is 20.8MP, which is also highly competitive. For content professionals that cannot sacrifice on the quality of images will love the detail of this camera. The top speed of this drone used to be 67mph, but it has been reduced to 58mph to ensure that video quality is not sacrificed.

With a range of 7km the DJI Inspire 2 can put each of the GPS based features to the test. This GPS drone is one for the professional that has the budget for the premium price tag.

The Conclusion

The strong and agile build of the drone means it’s one of the best ways to transport a high-end camera through the skies.

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